Automatic liquid dispensing device



July 6,1965 7 V.MAIELI 3,193,143

AUTOMATIC LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 18, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

IN VENT OR. M/VcE/Vr .Md/EL/ July 6, 1965 v. MAIELI 3,193,143

AUTOMATIC LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 18, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVEN TOR. V/NCE/WZM4/l/ BYMIM United States Patent 3,193,143 AUTOMATIC LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Vincent Maieli, 1116 Melissa Lane, North Bellmore, N.Y. Filed Oct. 18,1962, Ser. No. 231,443

12 Claims. (Cl. 222-42) The present invention relates in general to liquid measuring, mixing and dispensing devices and more particularly to automatic mixed drink dispensing devices.

Desirable features for drink dispensing devices are accuracy, economy, simplicity, strength, compactness, ease of maintenance and safety. It should have the capabilities of automatically dispensing many types of mixed drinks each of which is unform and of the same quality and texture as the preceding drink of the same selection.

Heretofore, drink dispensing devices have been limited to the number of various combinations of drinks which they have been capable of dispensing. They have also lacked the ability to economically measure the amount of liquid to be dispensed with any degree of accuracy and to maintain a uniform texture or consistency of the mixed drink. It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide an improved means for dispensing mixed drinks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for automatically dispensing mixed drinks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for dispensing many various combinations of mixed drinks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for dispensing a mixture of liquids, each similar selection having substantially the same ratio of mixed liquids.

A still further object of the invention is to make possible the use of small, compact, cheap and easily maintained equipment which is simple to operate.

To these ends the invention contemplates the use of a timer employing a printed circuit card having arcuate printed lines thereon. Each arcuate line controls a solenoid which in turn controls a plunger or valve for a selected period of time. The plunger or'valve is connected to the mouth of a bottle which contains a liquid. A selector controls the combination of solenoids which are activated so that a particular mixture of the various liquids are dispensed, as desired. When a particular combiriation of solenoids are activated, through the selector, printed circuit and timer, the bottles, containing various liquids, which are controlled by these particular solenoids are opened for a given duration of time and the liquids therein are dispensed to a mixing chamber from which the liquids flow to a container. The liquids in the container will be a mixture of various amounts of different liquids dispensed from the activated bottles. A venting arrangement is provided to assure that the combined pressure within the bottle, from both air and liquid, is maintained so as to provide a nozzle pressure slightly a greater than the outside air pressure.

The invention has other objects and advantages which will appear from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an outside three dimensional view of the invention with a part of the cabinet broken away so that part of the inside mechanism is visible;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;'and

FIG. 3 shows an electrical schematic of the control system of the invention and a cross sectional view'of one of the bottles with its nozzle and venting arrangement.

With reference to the drawings the particular embodiment shown there of the invention comprises, in general, a case 10, which has a shelf 11. Shelf 11, supports a pair of hangers 12 and 13. Iournaled in the hangers is a shaft 14 about which a selector drum 15 is mounted for rotation therewith. Connected to one end of the shaft 14 is a selector 16.

Mounted on the shelf 11 in the rear of the case 10 is a hanger 17 which supports a timing motor '18 and a circular printed circuit card 19. The shaft of the timing motor '18 is connected to a wiper arm 21 which passes over and engages the printed circuit lines of the card 19.

At the top of the case 10 are holes 22 for locating bottles 23. Each bottle, contains a different liquid, the contents of which when mixed with some of the liquid contents of the other bottles produces a desired mixture.

Attached to the neck of each bottle is a nozzle 24 which is inserted into a solenoid 25. There is one solenoid 25 for each bottle 23 and the solenoids are affixed to an upper shelf 26 which is supported in the upper part of case 10. Attached to the underside of upper shelf 26 is a mixing chamber 27 which directs the liquids coming from the bottles 23 towards a funnel 28, the funnel 28 being supported by the shelf 11. In some instances it may be desirable to combine the mixing chamber and funnel into a single unit or the nozzle may have flexible extensions attached thereto and directed into the funnel. Below the funnel 28 is a container 29 wherein the mixed liquid is stored.

In FIG. 3 it is seen that a nozzle 24, having an orifice 24a, is screwed into the inverted bottle 23. Within the nozzle 24 is a plunger 31 which has openings 32 and 32a therein. In the deactivated state the plunger 31 seats against a seal 33, which is in the nose of the nozzle 24, and is held there by a spring 34. The seating of the plunger against the seal prevents any liquid from within the bottle passing through the nozzle orifice 24a.

The nozzle has a vent opening 35 which has a flexible tube 36 attached thereto. The flexible tube is long enough when bent to reach the bottom of the bottle 23 and extend into the neck of the bottle to a particular height.

As is readily apparent it is very important when dispensing liquids, that for a given flow period, similar amounts of liquid are dispensed regardless of the fluid head pressure, the fluid head pressure normally being dependent upon the height of the liquid remaining in the bottle and the entrapped air pressure within the bottle.

The invention solves the above problem by providing a compensating plunger and a unique venting arrangement within the neck of the bottle. These will now be more fully explained.

The air gap between the plunger 31 and the inside wall of the nozzle 24 is minimized together with the thinness of the nozzle wall so as to permit the solenoid 25 to have a maximum lifting force with a minimum size coil.

The holes 32 and 32a within the plunger 31 are so designed as to permit the liquid to flow through them when the plunger is activated into a raised position.

Upon the energization of the solenoid 25 the magnetic field so generated tends to force the plunger 31 upwards until it is-centered within the solenoid. Opposing this force is the weight of the plunger, the spring 34 and the resistance to the flow of liquid through the plunger openings.

The rate of flow of the liquid through the orifice 24a is dependent upon the orifice opening and the difference of pressures, at the orifice, of the outside pressure and internal bottle pressure. The greater the differential pressure the smaller the orifice opening has to be to maintain a given rate of liquid flow. With the particular design of the plunger 31 utilized in this invention the greater the fluid head the greater is the liquid drag upon the plunger 31 forcing it towards the orifice 24a and liquid flow rate. r

. the bottle.

ing bar 37, line 59,1ead 61 to solenoid 25, 54, lead 55 and lead 42. V

maintaining a small opening." As the liquid is dispensed, from within the bottle the fluid head becomes smaller and less liquid drag is exertedon the plunger allowing it to move away from the orifice 24a creating a larger opening. 7 The design ternal holes,weight and retaining spring are determined factors for the cor'rect'plungerrtapers, in-

by the particular liquid being dispensed and the'desired Another technique employed .by' the invention to control the liquid flow rate is the positioning of the air vent tube 36.. The correct positioning of the tube provides a constant fluid pressure at the orifice 24a regardless of fluid head; This is accomplished by positioning the tube within the bottle so that the vented opening of the tube is within the neck of the bottle, at aheight' slightly above the orifice, with the tube; itself extending to'the' extreme.

bottom of the bottle.

.plunger is seated againsthe seal 33' by means of the spring34. 1 I The dispensed liquids from the bottles flow into the mixing chamber 27 where they are directed over the funnel 28, which passes the mixed liquids into the container 29. The mixing chamber 27,does. not store the ,rnixed liquids as its opening is larger than any possible liquid accumulation. J a The other selector positions operate in a similar way to the selector position number 2 which was described. Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example Astheliquid within the bottle is dispensed the increase l in available air space decreases the air pressure within,

opening is the sum of the pressure of the entrapped air plus the pressure created by the liquid heightat that'level. When this pressure equals orfalls below the "outside air pressure, air will flow into theibottle, through the: air vent 36, increasing the inner air pressure. By'this procedure the pressure at the air vent opening maintains substantially the same pressure as the outside air. Y

Since'the pressureat the tube vent'and the press" of the outside air is the same, the pressure at the orifice must be slightly greater because of the. additional liquid head from the tube vent to the-orifice. This difference The pressure at the level of the vent itube in pressure is what allows the liquid to flow from the v bottle. Therefore, regardless of thejliquid level Within the bottle the rate of liquid flow from the ,bottle will remain substantially constant for similar periods of time.

In operation a person wishing to have a particular mixture would turn the selector 'drum 15 to,the desired. mixture. By,turning the drum, the operator has also turned the shaft 14 so-that the select-or shorting arm'37 is in a particular selector position. The selector shown in FIG. 3 has eight positions but more or less can be utilized if desired; The operator pushes the starting switch 38 by means of lead 39, switch 38,,leadf41 and lead V 42. Thetiming motor turns the wiper arm21 across the circular circuit card 19IWhich has. five arcuatelines 44 through' iii printed thereon. I As the wiperarm' starts the wiper arm, and sw'itchfiSis bypassed thereby eliminating the operator from activatingthe switchqduringf operation of'th'e unit. The timing motor will remainon for one revolution at which point it will stop.v This is the result of lines 44 and 45 being disconnected as;

In FIG. 3 the selector drum 15 is shown'as being in they do not make a complete 360 arc;

means of lead 39, line 44, wiper arm 2'1,line4 8, lead 49,

and that changes in the detailsof construction and the combination and arrangementof parts may be-made With-,- out departinglfr'omrthe spirit and the scope of the inventioriashereineifterclaimed; I "what-lclaimiszj 1; A liquid dispensing "device comprising, a container for holding a liquid, a valved outlet means connected to said containenaflyent means connected intorsaid container, a 'rotatable'mounted means having indicia thereon forindicating av particular mixture, a selector circuit, a shorting bar connected to saidirotatable mounted means for rotationover said selector circuit, a .timing motor, a printed circuit card, a wiper arm attached to said timing motor for movementover and engagement with said circuit card, a voltage source connectedacrosssaid timing motor, a starting and stopping meansconnected between said timing motor and said voltage" source and electrical connection means connecting saidvalved outlet means,

said selector circuit and saidcircuit card together.

"said nozzle, a biasing means for holding ,said plunger 1 against said orifice, a magnetic coil aflixed around said 'and line current now' flows across" the starting motor 18 45 'motor formovement over-and engagement with said oni0 move, lines 44 and 45 are joined together by means of I I and said-circuit card together.

lead 50, line'5 1, shorting bar 37,.line 52, lead53 to sole- I her 2 current will also How across the solenoid around the'bottle containing liquid B by means of lead 39, line 44, wiper arm 21, line 47, lead 56, lea'd.57, line5 8, short- The solenoids are activated the wiper arm 21 continues to contact lines47 and 48 with line 44. When the solenoid 25 is activated the plunger 31 assumes a, position 'near the center of the is dispensed. When the solenoid is' deactivated the lead 62, lead vnoid 25, lead 54', lead 55, andlead 42. In position num-f,

nozzle, a drum for'indicating a particular mixture, a se lector circuit, ashorting bar connected. to said drum for rotation over' said-selector circuit, a timing motor,. a lprintedcircuitcard, a wiper arm attached to, said timing cuit card',la' voltage source connected across said timing motor,ra starting :and stopping means connected between said timing motor and saidvoltage source and electrical connection-means connecting saidcoil, said selector circuit 4. A liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 3 "wherein said printed circuit card consists of a'plurality its otherend substantially'at the same level as the end which communicates with the outside air, a circuit means connected to said valved outlet means,-a selector circuit 7 which-is connected into said circuit means and a shorting for the leng thof time that bar on said rotatable mounted means connectable to said selector circuit. e f

6. A liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said circuit means comprises a timing motor, a printed circuittcard,a wiper arm attached 'to said timing v motor for movement over and engagement with said circuitrcard, a voltage'source connected across said timing motor, a starting and stopping means'connectedbetween said timing motor and-said voltage source and electrical connection means connecting said valve means, said selector circuit and said circuit card together.

7. A liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said printed circuit card consists of a plurality of arcuate lines of varying lengths, the lengths of the lines representing periods of time.

8. A liquid dispensing device comprising, a rotatable mounted means having indicia thereon for indicating a particular mixture, a container for holding a liquid, a nozzle attached to said container, said nozzle having an orifice, a plunger contained within said nozzle, said plunger having openings therein for allowing said liquid to flow therethrough, a biasing means for holding said plunger against said orifice, a magnetic coil afixed around said nozzle, a selector circuit, a shorting bar on said rotatable mounted means connectable to said selector circuit, a circuit means connected between said selector circuit and said coil whereby said plunger moves away from said orifice upon said coil being energized and a venting tube contained within said container, one end of said tube communicating with the outside air through said nozzle, an intermediate portion of said tube reaching the bottom of said container and having its other end substantially at the same level as the communicating end.

9. A liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said circuit means comprises a timing motor, a printed circuit card, a wiper arm attached to said timing motor for movement over and engagement with said circuit card, a voltage source connected across said timing motor, a starting and stopping means connected between said timing motor and said voltage source and electrical connection means connecting said coil, said selector circuit and said circuit card together.

10. A liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said printed circuit card consists of a plurality of arcuate lines of varying lengths, the lengths of the lines representing periods of time.

11. An automatic liquid mixture dispensing device comprising, a rotatable mounted means having indicia thereon for indicating a particular mixture, a plurality of containers each of which contains a difierent liquid, a valved outlet means connected to each of said containers, at venting means connected into each of said containers, at

circuit means connected to said valved outlet means, a selector circuit which is connected into said circuit means and a shorting bar on said rotatable mounted means connectable to said selector circuit.

12. An automatic liquid mixture dispensing device comprising, a rotatable mounted means having indicia thereon for indicating a particular mixture, a plurality of containers each of which contains a different liquid, a nozzle attached to each of said containers, each of said nozzles having an orifice, a plunger contained Within each of said nozzles, said plunger having openings therein for allowing said liquid to How therethrough, a biasing means for holding said plunger against said orifice, a magnetic coil afixed around each nozzle, a selector circuit, a shorting bar on said rotatable mounted means connectable to said selector circuit, a circuit means connected between said selector circuit and each of said coils whereby said plunger moves away from said orifice upon said coil being energized and a venting tube contained within each of said containers, one end of said tube communicating with the outside air through said nozzle, an intermediate portion of said tube reaching the bottom of said containers and having its other end substantially at the same level as the communicating end.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,93 6,522 11/33 Pearson 222-478 2,55 8,522 6/51 Knapp 222-144.5 X 2,677,450 5/54 Gabrielsen et al 194-7 2,771,228 11/56 Dobbie 222-481.5 2,792,920 5/57 Sutphen et a1 222-2 X 2,848,140 8/58 Gabrielsen 222-504 X 2,919,053 12/59 Briggs 222-76 2,979,231 4/61 Witherspoon 222-504 X 3,079,052 2/ 63 Dyck 222-504 X 3,080,035 3/63 Diaz 194-4 FOREIGN PATENTS 10,377 6/91 Great Britain.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner. 

11. AN AUTOMATIC LIQUID MIXTURE DISPENSING DEVICE COMPRISING, A ROTATABLE MOUNTED MEANS HAVING INDICIA THEREON FOR INDICATING A PARTICULAR MIXTURE, A PLURALITY OF CONTAINERS EACH OF WHICH CONTAINS A DIFFERENT LIQUID, A VALVED OUTLET MEANS CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID CONTAINERS, A VENTING MEANS CONNECTED INTO EACH OF SAID CONTAINERS, A CIRCUIT MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID VALVED OUTLET MEANS, A SELECTOR CIRCUTI WHICH IS CONNECTED INTO SAID CIRCUIT MEANS AND A SHORTING BAR ON SAID ROTATABLE MOUNTED MEANS CONNECTABLE TO SAID SELECTOR CIRCUIT. 